Mailbox



-March 19, 1940. c. J. HOLDREN MAILBOX Filed Feb. 23, 1939 m 1 r. [il l llll lib Patented Mar. 19, 1940 PATENT MAILBOX Clifford J. Holdren, Charleston, W. Va., assgnor of one-half`to Harry S. Brown, Charleston,

W. Va.

Application February 23, 1939, Serial No. 258,028

Claims. (Cl. 23.2--1'0` This invention relates to the general class of deposit and collection receptacles and pertains particularly to'an improvedy mailbox of the type designed for house use..

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved form of letter or mailbox wherein a novel means is provided for facilitating the removal of mail therefrom, such removal being effected by the shifting of a bot- 1 tom gate whereby the mail is permitted to drop from the box into the hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mailbox having an improved form of magazine and paper holding device whereby such articles may be securely maintained in position until removed, such device being novelly designed and incorporated in the structure of the box. I

A further'object of thc-invention is to provide in a mailbox, a new and novel letter slot and coveringmeans therefor which is so constructed thatthe entrance of dirt, rain or other matter into the box will be effectively prevented While at the same time letters may be conveniently de- 2B posited in the box without requiring any particular or complicated manipulation of the letter slot v cover means. y

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed descripv tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

, I n the drawing: v Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the improved box embodying the present invention.

, Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the hinge means for a lid of the box.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

5,0 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the method of coupling the horizontal gate with the side walls of the box whereby the gate may have oscillatory movement.

. Referring to the drawing, the numeral I generally designates the box proper, which has as an kwidth of the side walls, thus leaving an open area integral part thereof, a magazine holding member orxapron which is generally indicated by the numeral 2, and which is attached to the box, as hereinafter more specifically described.

The box lI has the usual front and back walls 5 3 and 4, respectively, and the narrow side walls 5. The lower part or bottom ofthe box is open .to provide a mail discharge opening B. The-side walls at the lower ends are slightly rounded or convex, as indicated at l', for the purpose here- 10 inafter described, and the back wall 4 extends upwardly to an elevation greater than the `front wall 3 and is carried forwardly a distance equaling approximately one-third of the width of the side walls to provide the top. 7. The adjacent portions of the side Walls are extended, as indicated at t, to meet the ends of the top 'l and the forward f edges of the side walls from the lower part of the extensions 8 are inclined forwardly and. down-` wardly forming the sloping edgesf. The front 20 Iwall 3 is turned inwardly at its upper endand carried toward the backof the'box between the edges 9 of the side walls to which it is attached for a'distance of approximately one-third of the 5 or slot I0 which joins with the forwardly directed opening I I lying beneath the forward edge of the" top Wall 1. 1

This forward edge of the top wall is turned backA and inwardly, as indicated vat I2, and is provided with the edge recess `or slot I3 in which engages a flange or edge extension I formed along the edge of a lid or cover plate I5, said flange ter- `minating in tongues I 3 which engage over the inturned portion I2 of the top wall in themanner 35 illustrated, to provide a hinge connection for thecover or lid. This lid normally tends to maintain a vertical position by gravity and itis prevented, however, from assuming a perfectly vertical posiy tion by turning in a small portionvof each side i0 i wall adjacentthe top end of the part 8 thereof `to` provide a stop I7. The lower edge'of the lid I5 comes to the` bottom of the opening I I.

The top edges of the side wallsy 5 'are formed; with inwardly directed flanges lwhich extendy 40 across the ends of the opening I0 and eachpf y these flanges at its forward end or adjacent the inturned upper end portion of the wall 3, is provided with a hinge slot I8.

Mounted to cover the opening I0 is a sub- .50

stantially horizontal lid i9 which is divided rinto the upper opening covering portion 2li and the lower or forward portion 2l, which rlatter portion serves in the nature of` a counterbalance means to insure the closing of the part 2G with 55 FFCE v respect to the opening l0. At each end there is formed in the edge of the lid I9 a hinge slot IS' corresponding with the slot I8', and these slots have locking connection, the portion of the flange I8 lying behind each notch E8 entering the notch I3 so that the cover or lid I9 may oscillate on the flange I8, the upper portion 20 of the lid when in closed position, bearing against the undersides of the flanges. The counterbalancing portion 2i lies normally upon the inturned top part of the wall 3 and in this way coacts with the flanges i8 to limit the upward swinging movement of the portion 20.

In the formation of the box, the side walls 5 are cut so that after the flanges I8 are formed, there will be additional material at the inner edges of the iianges to be rolled back to form the guides 22. These act as guides for letters or other small articles of mail which are inserted into the box through the openings I E3--I I.

The lid l5 is suspended over and in slightly spaced relation with the top surface of the portion 20 of the lid I9, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus snow, rain or other matter falling against the lid I5 will drip off onto the lid I9 and flow forwardly to be guided away from the mail receiving openings I and l I.

Adjacent the bottom of the box, each side wall has secured thereto a trunnion or pivot pin 23. Disposed to extend over the open bottom 6 is a gravity controlled gate 24 at each end of which is an upwardly extending hanger ear 25 which is pivotally coupled with a trunnion 23. This gate 24 is slightly transversely arcuate and the curvature of the arcuate lower edges I of each side wall I is concentric with or struck from the pivot or trunnion 23 as is also the curvature of the gate. The back wall is extended down slightly below the bottom edges of the side walls so as to form an abutment against which the rear edge of the gate 24 engages as the gate swings to closed position.

The forward edge of the gate 24 is rolled under to provide the thumb rest 26 which facilitates swinging the gate to open position with the thumb of the hand in which the mail is caught as it slips from within the box.

In order to prevent any mail from working between the back wall and the rear edge of the gate, the back wall is provided with the longi tudinally extending ribs or corrugations 21 which start at theirupper ends ilush with the surface of the back wall and gradually extend forwardly to a maximum height at their lower ends just short of the lower edge of the back wall so that the baci: edge of the gate can pass beneath the corrugations. These corrugations serve as a guide for the mail, causing it to move forwardly as it drops onto the gate.

The lower edge of front wall 3 has a portion extended forwardly and upwardly and rolled back upon itself as illustrated. in Fig. 4, to provide the groove or channel 28 which, while it extends across the face of the box, is broken intermediate its ends for the purpose hereinafter set forth. This channel 28 constitutes a bearing for the lower edge of apron 2, which comprises the plate portion 29, forming the central part of the apron. This plate has ormed integrally therewith adjacent its lower end the rearwardly extending side wings 3D, each of which is provided with an arcuate slot 3l in which a pivot pin or trunnion 23 engages to limit movement of the plate when the latter is oscillated in the groove 28. rl'he apron 2 provides a holding means for magazines, papers or other large articles of mail which cannot be inserted into the box. The apron is swung outwardly to form a. substantially V-shaped recess into which rolled magazines or papers may be placed and due to the resilient contact of the rolled portion 28 with the lower edge of the apron, the apron will be normally urged inwardly so as to grip and hold such inserted magazine or other article. The upper end of the plate extends slightly above the inturned top portion of the wall 3 and is curved or turned outwardly slightly, as shown, and this plate may carry upon its face a name card holder 32 and a light spring 33 for pickup mail.

The lower edge of the plate 29 is provided with a cut out area 34 into which extends a forwardly pressed portion 35 of the front wall 3, which portion is provided to receive a thin lock of the cabinet type which is provided with a swinging locking tongue 36 which may be swung downwardly to a vertical position for engagement in a slot 31 in the gate body 24, so as to hold this member from swinging to opened position.

In order that the mailbox may be conveniently supported for use, the side edges of the back wall may be provided with apertured ears 3B in the manner shown through which securing screws or nails may be passed.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that in the use of the present box, mail may be easily inserted or introduced by placing the same against the portion 20 of the` horizontally disposed lid I9 and pressing it downwardly, which action will effect the oscillation of this lid together with the inward swinging of the hanging lid I5. By providing the horizontal lid IS so that it will maintain a slightly downwardly ininclined position, it will be seen that rain and snow will be effectively shed from the top of the box.

When the mail is to be removed, it is merely necessary, if the lock is released, to place the thumb of one hand against the inner side of the thumb rest 26 and pull outwardly to swing the gate 24 while holding the iingers of the hand beneath the open lower end of the box so that the mail will drop from the box into the hand. The gate 24 will close by gravity when it is released.

The apron 2 will be normally maintained in vertical position by rolled out lower edge of the front wall which forms the channel 28, this rolled edge operating in the nature of a spring to maintain the apron vertical and its outward swinging movement will, of course, be limited by the trunnions 23 engaging in the slots 3|.

What is claimed is:

1. A mail receiving receptacle, comprising a box, the box having a mail discharging opening, a gate disposed across said opening and including upwardly extending end suspension ears pivotally attached to the box whereby the gate will normally close by gravity, said box having a back wall extended downwardly beyond the arc of oscillation of the gate to provide a stop for the gate, and said gate having a thumb rest at its forward edge by which the oscillation of the gate to open position is facilitated.

2. A mail receiver, comprising a box having a mail discharging opening in the bottom thereof, a gate disposed over said discharging opening and including suspension ears pivotally attached to the box whereby the gate is caused to move by gravity to closed position yover said opening, said box having a front wall provided at its lower edge with an upwardly extending rolled portion across and against the under side of which said gate swings and forming a transverse groove, an apron plate extending vertically of the box in front of said front wall and having its lower edge rockably supported in said groove and normally yieldingly held upright Aby said rolled portion, and coupling means between the apron `and the body of the box permitting limited oscillation of the apron with respect to the box;

3. A mail receptacle, comprising a box having means in its upper portion facilitating the deposit of mail thereinto, said box including front, back and side walls, the box being open lat its bottom and said side walls having their lower edges arcuate, pivot members carried by the side walls upon the radial centers of the arcuate lower edges thereof, a gateadapted to position across said' bottom opening and having end suspension members each provided. with an aperture for the reception of a pivot member, said, gate being transversely bowed to conform to the curvature of the side wall edges, the said gate being suspended from the suspension means to close by gravity over said discharge opening.

4. A mail receptacle, comprising a box having means in its upper portion facilitating the deposit of mail thereinto, said box including front, back and side walls, the box being'open at its bottom and said side wallsk having their lower edges arcuate, pivot members carried by the side walls upon the radial centers of thearcuate lower edges thereof, a gate adapted to position across said bottom opening and having end suspension members each provided with an aperture for the reception of a pivot member, said gate being transversely bowed to conform to the curvature of the side wall edges, the said gate being suspended from the suspension means to close by gravity over said discharge opening, said front wall having a portion at the lower edge thereof rolled outwardly and upwardly to form an upwardly directed channel across and against the under side of which said gate swings, the rolled portion of the wall being brought into relatively close proximity to the outer face of the wall, a plate member disposed vertically adjacent the front wall of thebox and having a lower edge rockably supported in said channel, the rolled portion of the front wall yieldingly engaging and constantly urging the plate toward the front wall, and slotted ears integral with the sides of said plate and extending across the adjacent side walls and having said pivot means loosely engaging in the slots thereof.

5. A mail deposit receptacle, comprising a box having an inlet, said box having opposite side wallseach having a lower edge of arcuate contour, the box being open between said side walls for the discharge of mail, the box having a back wall formed to provide a plurality of iiutes of gradually increasing depth toward the lower edge thereof, a portion of said back wall extendingv downwardly beyond the edgev of the fluted portion, the box having afront wall having a lower edge in the plane transversely of the box with the lower edge of the iiutedportion of the back wall, a door comprising a plate member having an l over-al1 length greater than the width of the boxand transversely bowed to correspond to the curvature of the convex edges of the side walls, an arm at Veach end of said door extending longitudinally along the outer side of the adjacent side wall, means pivoting each arm to the ad- CLIFFORD J HOLDREN. 

